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.�- 1�.3 HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL PROVIDES FUNDING FOR CITIES Last week the House Appropriations Committee compared to all other states. approved by voice vote its FY 2005 Homeland • Urge reimbursement for overtime expendi- Security Appropriations bill. (See "Highlights of the tures incurred during heightened "orange alert" FY 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill" for security periods, which cities absorb during these details.) federally-determined elevated security levels. • Support the presidenYs budget request of For cities, the FY 2005 bill is a mixed bag, $1.45 biltion for Urban Area Security Initiative raising first responder funding in some areas and Grants, with provisions that ensure direct funding lowering it in others. For example, the bill proposes to cities and regions; almost $150 million in reduced funding for the • Support the president's budget request of Fireflghters Grant program. But the package would $500 million for law enforcement terrorism preven- provide nearly $230 million more for the Urban Area tion grants; Security Initiative (UASI) program. Currently 80 • Increase funding for emergency communi- cities have been designated for funding under the cations interoperability for first responders to UASI program, including several in California, maximize prevention and response efforts; and among them Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Jose, • Maintain funding for the firefighter grant San Diego and San Francisco. program at $750 million, with continued direct funding to local fire departments. The League strongly supports federal funding for first responder training, equipment and " " " " " " " • • • • •' • • • • • • • interoperable emergency communications, exer- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FY 2005 HOMELAND cises, emergency management planning, threat and vulnerability assessments, critical infrastructure SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL protection, public heatth readiness, community preparedness, and intelligence sharing. The FY 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill approved by the House Appropriations Commit- Greater federal support for these functions is tee mark provides $32.0 billion for operations and fundamental to protecting our communities against activities of the Department of Homeland Security another terrorist attack or other disaster. (DHS) in fiscal year 2005, an increase of $2.8 billion (9.4 percent) above the fiscal year 2004 Cities are urged to write their representatives enacted levels, and $896 million (2.9 percent) and ask them to maximize funding for first respond- above the presidenYs request. Increases above ers. Key points to make are those that were deliv- fiscal year 2004 reflect the authority to obligate ered in a March 5 letter the League sent to Califor- $2.5 billion for Project Bioshield, as requested by nia Congressional delegation Co-Chairs David the president. Excluding Bioshield and proposed Dreier and Zoe Lofgren and California Senators on user fees, the mark is $1.1 billion above the fiscal the League's FY 2005 Homeland Security Appro- year 2004 enacted levels and $496 million above priations priorities: the presidenYs request. • Maintain funding at $1.7 billion for the State Homeland Security Grant program, with provisions Supporting State and Local Fi�st Responders to ensure expedited delivery of at least 80 percent The bill provides $4.1 billion for first respond- of funds to local governments; ers, including grants to high threat areas, • Establish a more equitable State Homeland firefighters, and emergency management. Since Security Grant (SHSG) program formula that directs September 11th, 2001, $26.7 billion has been funding primarily to states where the threat of provided to first responders, including terrorism terrorism is greatest and lowers the per-state prevention and preparedness, general law enforce- minimum requirement. Although California is a ment, firefighter assistance, airport security, sea- major potential terrorist target state with its interna- port security, and public health preparedness. The tionally known landmarks and critical infrastructure, bill also recognizes that no community is immune it is receiving the least SHSG funds per capita as Continued on Page 4 Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 3